| |||||||||||||||||||||||
https://www.chathamartscouncil.org/investing-in-artists/farm-to-story/
One of the many things Chatham County is known for is its picturesque farms. What would happen if you pulled back the curtain for a behind-the-scenes look at how food gets from those gorgeous landscapes to your supper table? Would you see what challenges farmers face? What changes they’ve witnessed? How they got into farming in the first place? All of these questions, and more, are at the heart of a new county-wide oral history project called Farm to Story. Commissioned by the Chatham Arts Council, EbzB Productions—led by the artistic duo of Serena Ebhardt and David zum Brunnen—is launching Farm to Story to celebrate the people who grow, produce, and deliver much of the food that sustains our community.
“It’s a daunting project because of its scope,” said David zum Brunnen, EbzB Productions’ Producing Director. “However, it is a story we feel is important to share. Farmers and farms abound in this county. They are to be respected and treasured.”
This fall, EbzB Productions is embarking on an adventure as they interview more than 50 farmers to help generate an oral history of farming, including the generational change occurring on farms, the blend of sustainable and conventional farming tactics, the unique challenges farmers face, and more.
“There’s a real sense of pride here in our agricultural heritage,” explained Sam Groce, president, Chatham County Livestock Association; Emeritus Field Faculty – Chatham County/NCSU Agriculture Extension; owner and operator of Meadow Creek Cattle & Hay Farm. “It’s a connection to the land and to each other that feels both timeless and essential. It has taught us the value of hard work, patience, and community, and that’s a legacy and history worth preserving for the generations to come.”
The fascinating stories gathered will culminate in public presentations this spring–from performance and documentary-style film to curated photography—all to honor the county’s farming and agriculture community, because without them, there would be nothing on our supper plates.
Farm to Story is a deeply collaborative effort. And we’re fortunate that so many organizations have come together to make this happen. Partners already committed to the project include Chatham County’s NC Cooperative Agricultural Extension Service, Chatham County Livestock Association, Chatham County Beekeepers Association, Central Carolina Community College’s (CCCC) Sustainable Agriculture Program, Hispanic Liaison, Livestock Conservancy, with additional partners and presentation venues being announced in the months ahead. This project was generously funded by a grant from Chatham County.
https://www.chathamartscouncil.org/press/farm-to-story-2025/
Farm to Story’s Collaborative Community Project Culminates in the Oral History of Chatham Farmers
Chatham County, NC – Do you know where the food on your plate actually comes from? Or, how it gets there? It’s quite possibly from one of your neighbors in Chatham County, North Carolina. Commissioned by the Chatham Arts Council, EbzB Productions—led by the artistic duo of Serena Ebhardt and David zum Brunnen—is launching a county-wide oral history project called Farm to Storyto celebrate the people who grow, produce, and deliver much of the food that sustains our community.
In collaboration with the Chatham Arts Council and a host of community partners, Farm to Story will gather oral histories from farmers and growers across central and western Chatham County. These stories will culminate in public presentations in the spring of 2026, blending performance, documentary-style film, and curated photography to honor the county’s farming and agriculture community.
“As North Carolina natives, we are hopeful that this project will be both a tribute to our neighbors and a way to share the wisdom and resilience of farmers with the wider community,” expressed Serena Ebhardt, EbzB Productions’ Artistic Director. “Farmers and farms abound in this county,” added David zum Brunnen, EbzB Productions’ Producing Director. “Our goal is to not only bring visibility to them, but also to celebrate and elevate them as the foundation of our well-being.”
As Chatham County experiences rapid growth and change, the project seeks to highlight the enduring contributions of its farmers and hopes to address the disconnect between the produce aisle and the crop row. “Growing up in Chatham County, you learn that the story of this place is written in the soil,” said Sam Groce, president, Chatham County Livestock Association; Emeritus Field Faculty – Chatham County/NCSU Agriculture Extension; owner and operator of Meadow Creek Cattle & Hay Farm. “For my family, and for so many others here, agriculture isn’t just a part of our history; it’s a part of who we are. I remember the stories my grandparents told, not just of planting and harvesting, but of neighbors helping neighbors, of seasons of struggle and seasons of abundance that bound everyone together. Those deep-rooted traditions are what built this community. They shaped our local economy, of course, but they also influenced our culture in ways you can still feel today. When you see a field being prepared for a new season or cattle grazing in the pasture, you’re witnessing a legacy that has been passed down through generations.”
EbzB Productions will be interviewing more than 50 farmers to help generate an oral history of farming, including the generational change occurring on farms, the blend of sustainable and conventional farming tactics, the unique challenges farmers face, and more. “You’ve got to really believe in the artists and in your community to embark on a project like this–one that is so utterly shaped by the stories community members bring to the table,” explained Cheryl Chamblee, CAC Executive Director. “But hey, I come from a farming family. You can’t farm unless you can imagine and work toward something that doesn’t exist yet. It’s the same for artists like EbzB, who envision and create something new in a way that connects us to each other, to our humanity.”
Farm to Story is a deeply collaborative effort. The broad scope of organizations involved reflects the way this project pulls together so many facets of the community. Partners already committed to the project include Chatham County’s NC Cooperative Agricultural Extension Service, Chatham County Livestock Association, Chatham County Beekeepers Association, Central Carolina Community College’s (CCCC) Sustainable Agriculture Program, Hispanic Liaison, Livestock Conservancy, with additional partners and presentation venues being announced in the months ahead. This project was generously funded by a grant from Chatham County.
For more information on Farm to Story, visit ChathamArtsCouncil.org/investing-in-artists/farm-to-story.
About EbzB Productions
For more than 25 years, EbzB Productions (and its subsidiary creatives, including WhyNot Theatricals) has been dedicated to storytelling across stage, film, broadcast, and streaming platforms, including Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, PBS, and Tubi. An award-winning team touring nationally, their work has been in schools and communities nationwide. EbzB considers its projects in Chatham County among its most rewarding, reflecting the company’s mission to promote authenticity, integrity, self-discovery, and positive transformation for individuals and communities. Founded in 1998, that mission continues today. For more information, visit www.EbzB.org
About the Chatham Arts Council
The Chatham Arts Council nurtures creative thinkers in Chatham County. We do this in two ways: we invest in artists, and we educate kids through the arts. In its 43rd year as a nonprofit arts agency, Chatham Arts Council’s flagship programs include Meet This Artist, Grassroots Arts Grants, Creative Placemaking, ClydeFEST, and the Chatham Artists-in-Schools Initiative – serving nearly 4,000 Chatham children this year. Chatham Arts Council is proud to partner with the NC Arts Council, Chatham County, the Durham Arts Council, United Arts of Raleigh & Wake County, Chatham County Schools, and numerous Chatham arts organizations, human resource nonprofits, and local businesses. For more information, visit www.ChathamArtsCouncil.org.
CONTACT: For more information, or to set up an interview, please contact April Starling for Chatham Arts Council, april@getlinkcommunications.com, 917-544-0608 or Serena Ebhardt of EbzB Productions, ebzb@ebzb.org, 919-387-4616.
###
"David zum Brunnen absolutely becomes my great-grandfather on stage.” — Cedric Charles Dickens The Night Before Christmas Carol S...
